Description

The Lightning F.6 is a rank VI British jet fighter
with a battle rating of 10.0 (AB/RB) and 9.7 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.97 "Viking Fury".

General info

Flight performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics

Max Speed(km/h at 12,192 m)

Max altitude(metres)

Turn time(seconds)

Rate of climb(metres/second)

Take-off run(metres)

AB

RB

AB

RB

AB

RB

Stock

2,215

2,200

16 000

27.9

28.2

150.7

141.4

850

Upgraded

2,387

2,290

24.4

26.0

195.3

172.0

Details

Features

Combat flaps

Take-off flaps

Landing flaps

Air brakes

Arrestor gear

Drogue chute

X

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Limits

Wings (km/h)

Gear (km/h)

Flaps (km/h)

Max Static G

Combat

Take-off

Landing

+

-

1324

463

N/A

720

463

~10

~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)

Ailerons

Rudder

Elevators

Radiator

< 850

< 700

< 700

N/A

Engine performance

Engine

Aircraft mass

Engine name

Number

Basic Mass (no fuel)

Wing loading (full fuel)

Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.302

2

14,092 kg

437 kg/m2

Engine characteristics

Mass with fuel (no external load)

Max TakeoffWeight

Weight (each)

Type

5m fuel

18m fuel

1,310 kg

Afterburning axial-flow turbojet

15,353 kg

18,632 kg

19,000 kg

Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)

Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)

Condition

100%

WEP

5m fuel

18m fuel

MTOW

Stationary

5,620 kgf

7,390 kgf

0.96

0.79

0.78

Maximum

5,700 kgf

7,400 kgf

0.96

0.79

0.78

Survivability and armour

In line with its role as a high performance interceptor aircraft the Lightning F.6 has no armoured plating or bulletproof glass, such additions would have increased the weight of the aircraft, while offering no real benefit for it's intended role.

Most of the inside of the wings (including the flaps) consists of fuel tanks, fuel is also stored in the ventral tank. The top engine is mounted above and to the rear of the bottom engine, this leaves it exposed to enemy fire; on the flip side the bottom engine is shielded from enemy fire by the top engine and wing fuel tanks, this makes is surprisingly resilient to damage, it is not uncommon for it to even continue functioning after the aircraft has been hit my a missile (although the rest of the aircraft will be well and truly broken afterwards).

The large belly tank and high wings of the Lightning means it is able to survive belly landings very well.

Suspended armament

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

Surprisingly good turn rate between 800 - 1,000 km/h IAS

Red Top missiles with high seeker gimbal, g overload and all aspect capability with radar lock on (slaving)

A pair of ADENs, notoriously good cannons

Good climb rate and acceleration

Cons:

Big target

High AoA, speed loss during turns

Below average roll rate

Limited weapon selections

Although its climb rate and acceleration characteristics are good, you will still get outclimbed in a number of scenarios

Relatively low top speed at sea level in a straight line (1,280 km/h IAS)

Easy to strike tail when taking-off / landing

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Media

The Shooting Range #191 - Pages of History section at 04:56 discusses the Lightning F.6.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example: